The resistance of coatings and many types of materials to surface damage or penetration by relatively small impact forces may be determined with this light duty impact tester. This capability is especially useful in evaluating products and their finishes that will be mildly abused in households, offices, laboratories, etc., through years of normal use.

The impacter is a two-pound steel cylinder with a 0.50 in. (1.27 cm) diameter round-nosed end. Tolerance of weight is ±2 oz. This weight may be lifted to any desired height in a graduated guide tube approximately 16 in. (40.6 cm) high and then dropped, subjecting the specimen to an impact force of up to 28 inch-pounds. A 0.563 in. (1.43 cm) diameter hole in the base allows deformation of panels and other thin specimens.

The extra-heavy duty (0 to 320 inch-lbs.) impact tester (formerly model IG-1142) was developed in cooperation with the Society of the Plastics Industry for evaluating the impact resistance of rigid sheets of polyvinyl chloride (30 to 60 mils thick) and other plastics. In addition to its many applications with plastics, this instrument is used for evaluating numerous other materials having impact resistance's exceeding the 160 inch-lbs. limit of the IM-1120.

The tester consists of a vertical tube which guides an 8 pound weight, dropped against a punch from heights of up to 40 in. (101.60 cm). Graduations in inch-pounds are marked along the height of a slot in the guide tube, through which the weight is raised. Tolerance of weight is ±2 oz. Impact strengths from 0 to 320 inch-pounds can be measured. The punch is placed so that its 0.500 in. (1.27 cm) diameter head rests upon the specimen positioned on a pedestal having a hole, 0.640 in. (1.625 cm) diameter, connecting with a cleanout tunnel. The falling weight strikes the punch, driving its head against the specimen and into the hole. By gradually increasing the distance the weight drops, the point at which failure occurs can be determined. Failure is usually defined as a clearly visible rupture of the target area.

This versatile device can be used to make tests for both flexibility and impact resistance. By simply reversing the impacter, the instrument can be used in a dual capacity to evaluate the flexibility of can stock coating during double seaming and to test its impact resistance in handling.

A 1/8" (0.32 cm) steel rod (mandrel) is mounted at the front of the base and a butt hinge made of two steel blocks is attached to the base below the guide tube. When the hinge is closed, it creates a wedge shape gap between the upper and lower parts ranging from 1/8" at the hinged end to zero thickness at the free end. To make a bend test, the coated panel (30-31 gage tin plate) is first bent double over the 1/8 inch rod. The bent panel is placed between the parts of the hinge. Then the impact tool, flat face down, is dropped from a height of one or two feet onto the upper part of the hinge. The cylindrical fold in the panel is squeezed into a conical shape. For impact studies, the top block is leveled with the plug removed exposing a .563" (1.43 cm) hole. The 0.50" (1.27 cm) diameter, round-nosed end of the 4 lb. weight may now be dropped from any height along the scale graduated from 0 to 160 inch-pounds.

Comes Standard with: Base with arm support; Guide tube with collar; Scale in inches; Four pound weight; Punch; Operating instructions.